Japanese hip-hop found its voice through pioneers like Seiko Ito, whose 1989 album Mess/Age is widely regarded as the first game-changing Japanese rap record. Alongside Hiroshi Fujiwara and Kan Takagi, who helped introduce hip-hop to Japan’s airwaves and underground scene, they laid the foundations for a movement that was later propelled into the mainstream by…
Tag: writing
BST HYDE PARK 2026: Pedro Santos on Finding Himself Through Music – Exclusive Interview
We met Pedro Santos shortly after his performance on BST Hyde Park’s Rainbow Stage and found a quiet spot in one of the festival’s shaded chill-out areas. Relaxed, smiling and still energised from the set he had just played, the British-Portuguese singer-songwriter reflected on performing at one of London’s biggest festivals, the emotional honesty behind…
BST HYDE PARK 2026: Maroon 5 Still Know How to Put on a Show – Concert Review
Maroon 5 have always been one of those bands that seem to have been around forever, soundtracking different phases of pop-rock culture without ever really asking for too much attention. They started out as a group of school friends in Los Angeles, originally called Kara’s Flowers, writing scrappy indie-rock songs long before anyone knew what…
BST HYDE PARK 2026: Nineteen Years On, the Songs Still Remain – OneRepublic Live in London – Concert Review
As someone who has spent almost half of her life listening to OneRepublic, following their journey from the early days of Dreaming Out Loud to their latest releases, and having seen them perform several times over the years, writing about their BST Hyde Park set was surprisingly emotional. After last year’s show in London, which…
“Dog Day Evening” (2026) Review: Absurdity of Ordinary Desperation
Dog Day Evening (2026) was released nationwide immediately after its premiere at the Shanghai International Film Festival’s Asian New Talent section. It is director Mak Tin Shu’s directorial debut. Although a “new talent” as a director, Mak was not really new or fresh to the Hong Kong film industry. His scripts for Trivisa (2016) and…
JIB DREAM FANMEET 7 Brings Together Leading Thai BL Stars in Rome This August
The JIB DREAM FANMEET 7 is set to return to Rome on 29-30 August 2026, bringing together some of the most popular names in Thai Boys’ Love (BL) television. Hosted at the Hilton Rome Airport Hotel in Fiumicino, the event continues what has become one of Europe’s most recognisable fanmeet series dedicated to Thai entertainment…
BST Hyde Park 2026: From Midnight Til Morning to FLO and Bazzi, A Celebration of Live Music – Concert Review
British Summer Time at Hyde Park has long been a festival that rewards discovery as much as it celebrates established stars. This year’s line-up presented precisely that, delivering a wonderful mix of emerging talent, global pop stars and K-pop royalty. From the fresh-faced harmonies of American-Australian boy group Midnight Til Morning, the superb British R&B…
ONE TO WATCH: Olympia Vitalis Releases a New Single, “Baby Blues”
Olympia Vitalis is making a name for herself as one of the UK’s most exciting soul singers. Raised in West London and having spent years singing in gospel choirs, she draws on a rich range of influences, from Aretha Franklin and Amy Winehouse to Nas and Kendrick Lamar. Since the release of her debut EP…
Inside K-EXPO Inkigayo Paris: A Night Where K-Culture Took Over the City – Concert Review
On a night driven as much by symbolism as by performance, the 2026 K-EXPO INKIGAYO in Paris managed to feel celebratory and carefully assembled. Staged as part of the programme marking 140 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, the concert could easily have placed too much weight on its own significance. Instead, it…
Director Ang Geck Geck Priscilla’s Journey in Creating “Ah Girl” – Exclusive Interview
Having shared the spotlights in Rotterdam, Hong Kong, and ahead of its premiere in Shanghai, director Ang Geck Geck Priscilla’s debut feature Ah Girl, 13 years in the making, presents a bittersweet self-healing childhood of a 7-year-old curious girl Swee Swee (Xuanjing ONG) in the post-divorce turbulence of her parents. Ah Girl comes from a…
“Ah Girl”: A Heartwarming Look at Family and Loneliness – Review
Inspired by director Ang Geck Geck Priscilla’s own childhood experiences and long-held reflections, the Singaporean filmmaker’s debut feature Ah Girl follows the resilient Swee Swee (Ah Girl) as she journeys through a childhood scarred by hardship and bruises. Set in the 1990s, the 7-year-old Ah Girl (Xuanjing ONG), and her younger sister Ah Tian (Sydney…
BST Hyde Park Reveals Full Duran Duran Line-Up
Duran Duran’s BST Hyde Park show just got even bigger, with organisers revealing the full line-up for the band’s headline performance on Sunday 5 July. Joining the British music legends in Hyde Park will be Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Groove Armada (DJ set), SOPHIE GREY., SISTRA, Harrison, Wendy Bevan and Sam Scherdel. They join previously…
Lewis Capaldi to Take Over BST Hyde Park on 11 and 12 July 2026 – Full Line Up Announced
Lewis Capaldi’s return to BST Hyde Park this summer has become even bigger, with organisers revealing the full line-up of special guests set to join the Scottish singer-songwriter across his two headline shows on 11 and 12 July 2026, with the first date already sold out. Originally announced for one night, overwhelming demand led to…
JIB DREAM FANMEET 6.5 – Apo and Mile Reflect on Playing Trin and Tanwa in “Shine” – Exclusive Interview
Apo Nattawin and Mile Phakphum have become a key screen pairing in Thai entertainment over recent years. From KinnPorsche to Man Suang and now Shine, they have drawn consistent attention for their performances. Their latest project takes them into new creative ground, mixing romance, political tension, comedy, and social themes set in late-1960s Thailand. In…
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